People in Birmingham are being encouraged to check that they, their children and teenagers have had two doses of MMR vaccine following confirmation of cases of measles within the city.

Public Health England (PHE) West Midlands is working with Birmingham City Council and local NHS partners to make sure that anyone in the city who needs an MMR vaccination is aware, following confirmed cases of measles in children in Birmingham. Most of the recent cases had not received the required two doses of MMR vaccine.

If children and young adults have missed these vaccinations in the past, it’s important to take up the vaccine now from GPs, particularly in light of the recent cases in Birmingham.

Parents should check their child’s Red Book to see if they’ve received MMR vaccinations as scheduled, or check with their GP surgery if they are unsure.

Measles symptoms to be aware of include:

high fever

sore, red, watery eyes

coughing

aching and feeling generally unwell

a blotchy red brown rash, which usually appears after the initial symptoms.